Ganderbal, Feb 23: The annual task of maintaining the vital 434 km Srinagar-Leh highway, undertaken by the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) and Project Vijayak, continues to present formidable challenges, particularly during snow clearance operations and avalanche threats. Despite the daunting obstacles, both entities employ advanced machinery and manpower to ensure the highway remains navigable for traffic.
A senior official from BRO threw light on the difficulties encountered, emphasizing the significant avalanche risks in areas such as Zojila Pass, Zero Point, Captain Mode, Gumri, Shaitani Nallah, and Pani Matha. However, relentless efforts are underway to overcome these natural hazards and keep the road passable.
The closure of the Srinagar-Leh highway during the winter months, usually from December onwards, due to heavy snow accumulation and hazardous road conditions, results in the Ladakh region being cut off from the rest of Jammu and Kashmir for over six months annually. This lifeline serves as the primary connection between Ladakh and the rest of the state.
In an extraordinary turn of events this year, the Zojila Pass remained accessible for vehicular movement throughout January, contrary to its typical closure. This unexpected development during harsh winter conditions was hailed as a historic achievement by drivers and commuters alike.
However, temporary closures were experienced in early February due to fresh snowfall, with the pass briefly reopening as weather conditions improved. Nevertheless, heavy snowfall last week necessitated another temporary closure, prompting Project Vijayak to initiate snow clearance operations from the Minamarg side, while Beacon is deliberating on commencing operations from the Ranga Mode side due to forecasted snowfall.
Meanwhile, the central government’s ambitious endeavor to construct the Zojila Tunnel aims to ensure year-round connectivity for the people of Ladakh and Kargil. Spanning 14.2 kilometers beneath the Zojila Pass, the tunnel, approved in January 2018 and inaugurated for construction in May 2018, holds the promise of significantly reducing travel time from hours to a mere 15 minutes.
Construction work on the Zojila Tunnel is progressing steadily on both the Minamarg and Baltal sides, with Mega Engineering Infrastructure Limited (MEIL) leading this monumental project. Despite the challenges posed by nature, the unwavering efforts of BRO, Project Vijayak, and the vision of the central government through initiatives like the Zojila Tunnel underscore a steadfast commitment to ensuring uninterrupted connectivity for the remote regions of Ladakh and Kargil.
